U.S. and Colombia Launch 41st Southern Vanguard Exercise: About 800 Troops Train Together in Colombia
The 41st iteration of Exercise Southern Vanguard 2027 (SV27) began in Colombia on November 2, 2026, bringing together approximately 800 participants, including about 350 U.S. military personnel and more than 400 soldiers from the Colombian Army, for joint training scheduled to run until mid-November, according to the U.S. Army.
Sponsored by U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) and led by U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command (USAWHC), SV27 is an annual exercise combining a command post exercise and a field training exercise. It is nested under the Joint Staff's global military exercise strategy, which enables the joint force to train alongside allies and partners. Training scenarios focus heavily on maritime interdiction, ground security operations, cyber defense and interagency cooperation, and are designed to counter regional threats, build partner capacity and increase readiness.
Pre-exercise activities began on October 30 with an aeromedical evacuation scenario running from Colombia's Tolemaida military base to the Cavalry School in Bogota. The scenario tested the immediate care and first aid skills of medical-specialty soldiers from both armies while treating personnel with simulated, mine-related injuries. Observers and staff from regional security organizations and 22 other partner nations also take part in the exercise.
The Army described this year's iteration as a premier bilateral training exercise highlighting the security partnership between the United States and Colombia. Soldiers from both nations will share tactical expertise, build institutional trust and strengthen combined readiness to respond to regional security challenges. The exercise builds on more than 200 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Colombia.
(Source: U.S. Army)
Source: U.S. Army
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：资料照片，2026 年 9 月 17 日上一届 Southern Vanguard 26 野外训练演习在秘鲁 Sauce 举行结业突击演练，智利陆军第 1 装甲旅士兵在演练中机动。该图为美国陆军官方发布的往届演习画面，用于说明本演习形态。来源：美国陆军国民警卫队（照片由 Staff Sgt. Zoe Morris 拍摄，经 army.mil 发布），公共领域。 / Photo: File photo from the previous iteration, Southern Vanguard 26, showing Chilean Army soldiers during the final assault of the field training exercise in Sauce, Peru, on September 17, 2026. Source: U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Zoe Morris, released via army.mil, public domain.
